Ferry from Vancouver to Victoria: Route, Times, and How to Plan It

On this page

1. The route: Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay
2. Getting to Tsawwassen
3. Walk-on or drive on?
4. Reservations: Saver and Prepaid fares
5. When to arrive at the terminal
6. Early sailings: the overnight-before option
7. Before you go
8. Frequently asked questions

The route: Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay

There is one ferry route between the Vancouver area and Victoria, and it does not start in Vancouver proper. It runs from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, at the end of a 2 km causeway in Delta, to Swartz Bay at the northern tip of the Saanich Peninsula. Swartz Bay is in Sidney, about 31 km and roughly 30 minutes by road from downtown Victoria.

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal1 Ferry Causeway, Delta, BC V4M 4G6 Google Maps Apple Maps

Swartz Bay11300 Patricia Bay Hwy, Sidney, BC V8L 5J4 Google Maps Apple Maps

The crossing itself takes about 1 hour 35 minutes and passes through the Southern Gulf Islands, which is why it is often described as the most scenic of the mainland-to-island routes. It is also the busiest, so the planning below matters more here than on the Nanaimo routes.

For what the crossing is like on board, see the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay ferry page; this page is about getting there and getting through the terminal.

Getting to Tsawwassen

Tsawwassen is on the far south edge of Metro Vancouver, a few hundred metres from the US border. Whatever your starting point, you will end up on Highway 17, which runs straight onto the causeway.

Starting point	Distance	Typical drive time
Downtown Vancouver	~36 km	~36 min
Richmond Centre	~24 km	~24 min
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)	~29 km	~27 min
Ladner	~11 km	~15 min

These are off-peak figures.

By transit: take the Canada Line to Bridgeport Station in Richmond, then the 620 bus, which runs directly to the ferry terminal and stops at the foot-passenger building. The bus runs roughly every 30 minutes and the combined trip from the airport is somewhere between about 36 and 58 minutes. Full details, including taxi and rideshare costs, are on the YVR to Tsawwassen ferry page.

Walk-on or drive on?

The decision depends on what you will do in Victoria, not on the crossing itself.

• Walk on if you are staying in downtown Victoria for a night or two. You avoid the vehicle fare, board more flexibly, and can leave the car in the long-term lot at Tsawwassen. Read the Tsawwassen ferry parking guide for rates and how the lots work. At Swartz Bay, public transit and taxis run into the city.
• Drive on if you plan to explore the Saanich Peninsula, head up-island, or travel with a family and luggage. Vehicle fares are the main cost, and on busy days you need a reservation to be sure of a spot.

Reservations: Saver and Prepaid fares

On this route the operator sells two kinds of prepaid vehicle fare, both of which guarantee a place on a specific sailing:

• Saver fares — the cheapest option, from $49 one way for a car and driver, available on selected off-peak sailings. Prepaid and non-refundable, with a $30 fee if you do not show up.
• Prepaid fares — $110 for a car and driver, available on all sailings. A $20 no-show fee applies.

Prices are current at the time of writing and change with the fare season, so confirm before booking.

When to arrive at the terminal

The check-in rules are strict and the terminal enforces them.

Your situation	Check-in opens	Check-in closes
Vehicle with reservation	60 min before	30 min before
Walk-on with reservation	60 min before	30 min before
Vehicle, no reservation	—	Ticket sales close 5 min before
Walk-on, no reservation	—	Ticket sales close 10 min before

Arriving inside the 60-to-30-minute window is the sweet spot for reserved vehicles: earlier than 60 minutes and you cannot check in yet; later than 30 minutes and your reservation is released.

Sample timing for a mid-morning sailing with a reserved car

1. 8:30 Leave downtown VancouverAbout 36 minutes off-peak, but allow extra for the George Massey Tunnel.
2. 9:00 Check-in opens for reserved vehiclesYou cannot check in earlier than 60 minutes before departure.
3. 9:15 Arrive at the vehicle ticket boothsHave your reservation confirmation ready to show.
4. 9:30 Check-in closesAfter this your reserved space is released to standby.
5. 10:00 Sailing departs
6. 11:35 Arrive at Swartz BayAbout 30 minutes by road to downtown Victoria.

Without a reservation on a busy day, the honest answer is “as early as you can”, because standby vehicles board only after reserved ones. The how early to arrive at Tsawwassen guide works through the timing for different days and situations.

Early sailings: the overnight-before option

The first sailing to Swartz Bay leaves early in the morning, typically before breakfast; check the schedule for the exact time. Catching it from Vancouver means leaving downtown before dawn, and from further afield the arithmetic gets worse.

Many travellers instead stay in Tsawwassen the night before, ten minutes from the terminal, and either drive on rested or leave the car and get dropped at the foot-passenger doors.

Options range from a hotel near Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to a self-contained suite. Ours is a private 3-bedroom suite in Tsawwassen (the upper level of a hillside home, with its own private entrance — a short uphill walk and a few steps from the driveway, then everything inside is on one level) that sleeps 6, with free driveway parking and a full kitchen, about 10 minutes by car from the terminal and about 30 minutes (26 km) from YVR. Details are on the 3-bedroom suite in Tsawwassen page.

The same logic works in reverse: an evening arrival from Victoria followed by a night in Tsawwassen avoids driving into Vancouver tired.

Before you go

• Check the current schedule the day before; sailing times change by season.
• Reserve a vehicle spot for weekend and holiday sailings.
• Fill up before Highway 17; fuel options near the terminal are limited.
• Foot passengers: bring luggage you can carry to the boarding ramp on your own.
• Keep your reservation confirmation available to show at the booth.
• Allow extra time for the George Massey Tunnel on weekday afternoons.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria leave from?

It leaves from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal at 1 Ferry Causeway in Delta, about 36 km south of downtown Vancouver. There is no ferry from downtown Vancouver itself to Victoria.

How long is the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria?

The crossing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay is about 1 hour 35 minutes. Add the drive or bus to Tsawwassen and about 30 minutes from Swartz Bay into Victoria for a door-to-door time of roughly three to four hours.

Do I need a reservation for the Vancouver to Victoria ferry?

Not strictly, but vehicle reservations are strongly recommended on Friday afternoons, Sunday afternoons, summer weekends, and long weekends. Foot passengers rarely need one. Prepaid and Saver fares include a guaranteed spot on a chosen sailing.

How early should I arrive at Tsawwassen for the Victoria ferry?

With a vehicle reservation, check-in opens 60 minutes before departure and closes 30 minutes before. Without a reservation, arrive earlier on busy days because you are competing for standby space. Foot passengers should be at the terminal at least 30 minutes ahead, since walk-on ticket sales close 10 minutes before departure.

Can I take the ferry to Victoria as a foot passenger?

Yes. Walk-on passengers buy a ticket at the foot-passenger building, board separately from vehicles, and can leave a car in the long-term lot at Tsawwassen. At Swartz Bay, public transit and taxis connect to downtown Victoria.

What is the first ferry from Vancouver to Victoria?

The first sailing from Tsawwassen leaves early in the morning, typically before breakfast. Check the current schedule for the exact time, since it varies by season and day of the week.

Last updated August 28, 2026. Schedules, fares, and parking rates change — confirm with the operator before you travel.